John d



(No Model.) I

J. D; STANLEY.

HOT CORN HOLDER.

No. 558,224. Patented Apr. 14, 1896.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN D. STANLEY, OE HONCUT, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T O AUSTIN P. MERRILL, OF SAME PLACE.

HOT-CORN HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 558,224, dated April 14, 1896.

Application filed January 6, 1896.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN D. STANLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at I-Ioncut, county of Butte, State of California, have invented an Improvement in Hot-Corn Holders; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same. I

My invention relates to the class of hotcorn holders; and it consists in the novel construction, arrangement, and combination of the parts which I shall hereinafter fully describe and claim.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple, serviceable, and convenient device for holding hot corn while eating the same.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, the figure is a perspective view of my device.

A is a handle, in which is rigidly secured the shank B of the fixed jaw G. This jaw is a curved one, having a radius adapting it to, partially circumferentially embrace an ear of corn, and it is provided at its widened extremity with teeth 0.

D is the movable jaw, made sufficiently wide to obtain a proper bearing and provided with teeth 01. It lies opposite the engaging surface of jaw O and is straight. The shank E of this jaw passes down beside the shank B of the fixed jaw and enters a socket in the handle A, in which it is adapted to freely slide out and in, being controlled and held normally projected by means of a spring F of any suitable character, which is preferably located within the handle. The movement of the shank E is guided and limited by means of a stud e, which fits and slides freely in an elongated slot 1) in the shank B of the fixed jaw, and the operation of the movable shank E with its jaw D is eifected by means of a thumb or finger piece G upon said shank.

In using the holder it may be grasped by the handle in such a manner that the thumb will rest upon the piece G, and by pressure upon said piece will withdraw the shank E Serial No. 5 74,531. (No model.)

by the return of the movable jaw D under.

the power of the spring F, or, if found more convenient, the instrument may be turned in the hand in such a way that the finger may play upon the piece G in order to operate the sliding jaw. In any case the ear of corn is readily grasped between the two jaws approximately in the line of its diameter and is firmly held, so that it may be eaten with convenience.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a hot-corn holder two opposing normally-closed jaws, the shanks of which are parallel, with one guided and slidable on the other, a spring acting on the shank of the movable jaw and exerting a constant pressure against the article held between the jaws, and means whereby the movable jaw is slidably retracted in opposition to the normal closing action of its spring.

2. A hot-corn holder consisting of a handle, a shank fixed therein and having a fixed jaw, a second shank slidable in the handle and having a jaw opposing the fixed jaw, a spring for holding the jaws normally closed and permitting their separation to admit the ear of corn, a slot-and-guide connection between the two shanks and a thumb or finger piece on the movable jaw for retracting the latter in opposition to the normal closing action of its spring.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my JOHN D. STANLEY.

hand. 

